I am worried about the Trump attacks on Kamala, because they apparently buoy up his voters with uglier and uglier thoughts and ideas. Today the Bulwark discussed the anti-trans campaign, and I really hope that people vote on issues that affect them, not their neighbor's health. I am really appreciating the Lincoln Project Ads. This is a Republican group and one of the reasons that their ads against Trump and Vance are so powerful. One of their latests is called Abuse. I think it is out in time for the VP debates. https://youtu.be/Bm_Ozma50Ao?si=ywpERFScGk95e2rj
The misogyny flowing through the veins of today's GOP is extraordinary. Hard to fathom how that's a winning strategy. My guess is that there are a lot of formerly steadfast female GOP voters who will pull the lever for Harris/Walz. I sure hope that's the case. Voting against your own best interests is counter-intuitive.
Some of us also think we will flip veterans, military and military families via "not suckers or losers." Lots of testimonials from vets who voted for Trump x 2. .https://votevets.org/
Thank you. A mystery: How could Mike Pompeo support Trump? Trump dissed John McCain. Trump lies. Trump will sell out Ukraine. Mike Pompeo was an honored graduate of West Point. I don't get it.
Come on, Swbv. They're spreading the billionaires' money around. I'd love to see Pompeo's financials and tax returns (although he probably cheats). I would bet we'd see regular $500,000 consulting fee payments from mysterious shell companies. Maybe once a quarter? Extending unlimited into the future? Hard to stand up against that, especially if you're already inclined to join Team Felon (aka Team Trump). It takes a really strong moral character to stand up against temptation like that.
I think (maybe just want to believe) that LOTS of folks will consider the privacy of their vote and choose sanity over demagoguery is in their best interest. And hopefully down ballot, too.
If you subscribe to theses channels you will get alerts about new content.
FYI - LP has a another new ad leaning in on Vance's ugly rhetoric about staying in abusive relationships. Trigger warning: it discusses domestic violence
I'd like to see a media that was still analytical and devoted to bringing news and developments to the citizens write this accurate headline, with an appropriate news story under it: "GOP VP Nominee Vance Champions Domestic Violence."
If we think the GOP has hit a new low, we are mistaken. I think Waltz is up to the task to take on Vance. Waltz does not suffer bullshit from anyone. Thanks Robert and great photo!
Also, we have to keep in mind that many excellent Substacks are informing more and more people. I see an important job of Substack writers is to pay attention to the turns of phrase, the rhetorical tricks, the sleights-of hand, the slick evasions, as well as the obvious lies.
In columns this week, these clear-thinking, skilled writers can educate readers about what the rhetoric really REVEALS. The mainstream media is not going to do that, but talented writers like Robert, Heather, Beschloss, Truscott, and so many others can do that. Then we can share far and wide.
I believe people can be educated about rhetorical tricks. And they don't like to be flim-flammed unless they're already in the cult. I trust our real writers to do that.
Thanks, Robert, for everything: sharing your fine mind, writing your crystal-clear prose, and generously giving your time and energy to educate as well as encourage us. Your name should make it into the history books.
When the light in that photo of Andromeda left its source, to arrive here tonight, at that time the closest thing to humans on Earth was Lucy and her fellow Australopithicines.
Robert, I particularly related to your concluding thoughts this morning, thank you. May I reach out to folks here about something I have been noticing? When referring to Kamala Harris in brief, it would be best to use her 'sir name' rather than her first name. This is a discerning sign of the respect we all have for her. Folks use 'Trump' but then use 'Kamala'. I consider this an important difference for professional women. While I truly respect her and feel comfortable with her enough to use her first name; the subliminal use of her first name may take her down a tier amongst those that wish to belittle her. We all need to contribute to raising her up, no matter how small that gesture may be.
Usually, I would agree with you 100%, and you have hit on a point I have been preaching since the 1970s. However, in this case, I believe using her first name is being used intentionally to demonstrate her relatability, joyful personality, and sharpest contrasts with Dump. For example, the signs that are passed out to attendees at her campaign events often say "Kamala" or "Kamala and Coach." I do hope, though, that when she becomes president, everyone will address her properly as "President Harris."
I do sincerely wish the media would immediately stop referring to Dump as "President Trump" instead of "Former (or "Ex-") President Trump." HE IS NO LONGER A PRESIDENT, and of course, he never deserved the title in the first place!
he's a private citizen with no standing. Much good that does us, as he's got the "political performance art" grip on the American psyche, delivering the delicious frissons of watching Rosemary's Baby on a daily basis. And unless I'm mistaken, the grammar rules would indicate "ex-president Trump" or "former president Trump." Note the use of the lower case.
Actually, when an honorific is used in front of the person’s name, it is capitalized, according to the official rules of protocol. It is also capitalized when stating a person’s official title even when it follows the name (“Kamala Harris, President of the United States”). The word “president” is not capitalized when used in a generic sense (e.g., “he was president 4 years ago”). I hope this helps.
I agree. It smacks somehow of disrespect. I, myself, didn't feel comfortable saying "Kamala" and now refer to her as "Kamala Harris" or "Harris." I can't wait to start calling her "Madame President."
Eliz, I agree with you 2000%! If you say "Kamala," please say "Donnie" in the same post. It is a sign of how much we love her, but it is definitely trivializing and diminutive, like calling that gangling pre-adolescent tomboy "pumpkin" or "poopsie" or something baby-like. She deserves to be called "Harris," and it's up to us to do so. Let's elevate her stature together. I think it's important. We're not paying attention.
"There is little historical precedent for vice-presidential debates making a difference."
That's right. Historical. But is it fair to expect historic outcomes from an ahistoric election?
And the debate does not necessarily have to get one to admit, "ya know, I was REALLY intent on voting for Trump, but now that I've seen the VP debate ..."
No, but the debate can light a fire under a person who was on the fence about whether to vote or not to vote.
"OK, I wasn't certain I can break away from work to vote for Harris-Walz, but now I cannot allow a JD VP."
Or how about this? "I was sorta leaning for Trump, but now I think I'll just stay home."
The bald partisan nature of today’s corporate media has been exposed as, once again, CBS this time, will allow MAGA to stand up at a debate and, in a FREE ad and part of a blatant disinformation campaign, lie to millions unchecked ! The scary weakness in America is that the corporate media appears to be ultimately owned by billionaire oligarchs who favor Dump. Dump is the Leonard Leo/ Heritage Society puppet they want, to seize the US. And Peter Thiel is there as well. A very scary situation, as disinformation and brainwashing the American public is the goal. I’m just having some anxiety, as the swing states have such outsized voting power. I’m meeting with a group this week and we are writing postcards to Wisconsin. That’s a positive action. If it wasn’t for the corporate media, in the form of Rupert Murdoch et al, we wouldn’t be having such a close election. I am grateful for President Biden and VP Harris, as they dedicated themselves to saving democracy, and tirelessly campaigning all over the country during their elections….
Hi Kathy, fellow postcard writer here. It is one of my favorite antidotes to anxiety. If I feel like my brain is getting stuck on that spinning hamster exercise wheel, I just pull out a handful of postcards and go to my Zen space.
I have been getting reports from some of my other postcarding Zoom friends that they had to order postcard stamps online from USPS.com because their local Post Office has sold out. This is coming from multiple people in different locations. So everybody, please assess how many postcards you still plan to write and stock up on stamps! Mail dates for those "write and hold" campaigns are rapidly approaching!
Of course I thought I had bought enough stamps before the July price increase and have been back to buy more stamps several times already since then. I have had a lot of anxiety to dissipate!!
I bought some pre-paid, preprinted postcards with the stamps already printed on them. Ask for them. I bought 100 and wiped my tiny rural postoffice out. But they said they'd order more. Try that, maybe.
Thank you for the support!! Apparently, this local democratic group has already bought several hundred postcards and is recruiting writers....so I am going to join in!
I agree about the debate! JD Vance is slick enough to sound so very passionate and concerned about absolute lies……now CBS is leaving the fact-checking up to the opponents. Imagine Walz trying to make HIS points, while taking all his time to correct what Vance has lied about. It’s insane. And the lies are critically important - with life and death consequences in this election. How stupid of CBS to abdicate their responsibility. Perhaps all future debates should include an independent fact-checker sitting alongside the moderators, who can stop to call out egregious lies. This is what the moderators finally did on NBC when Trump and Harris debated. It was so refreshing. Vance will spend 10 minutes painting his lying pictures of all the hideous things Harris (as Biden’s VP) has done the last 3 years. Then Tim will have approximately 30 seconds to fact check Vance, and try to make a comment about the truth. I hope Walz will constantly run over his allotted time, and that he will jump in (since mics are left open) to call out Vance’s disastrous lies.
I know! The debate is in such an egregious format! It is all about power and control, and they know they are so close to getting it all, and that's why they want to control women and minorities! We will bury them forever, when we come out and vote en masse! I hope Governor Walz just ignores the liar on the stage and makes his own points. Hopefully, the debate team will come up with a good strategy...they sure did for VP Harris! Thanks for listening!
Donnie was unable to bully our fierce attorney-general prosecutor Harris. I'm guessing Coach Walz has perfected the ability to identify weak spots in the opposing team and hit them hard with the right player or combination of players or game play or whatever. I just hope his verbal skills are up to deploying strategy in real time. He's very persuasive with crowds, that's for sure. But taking incoming from an enemy like Vance is a different kettle of fish. Let's see. Fingers crossed. Coaches and prosecutors are very, very good at taking down bullies.
Trump did bully the moderators, though, constantly demanding to respond (and go unrebutted) to something Harris had said. As a result Trump made 39 remarks to Harris' 23 remarks and he spoke about 6 minutes more than she did. The moderators did not stand up to him once nor did they cut his mic. They stopped Harris several times when she hit the limit, though. I was the proverbial crazy old man yelling at the TV! Lol
I hear you. Taking that tsunami of incoming lies and bs and just plain LIES from someone like Vance is another level of mess. ?I have alot of trouble with social media as people just parrot lies and stuff just not founded in any factual data or events....so weird.
The DEM campaign should shout out that Walls’ opponent in this debate is not just vying to be Veep, but, given DJT’s dementia, in all likelihood would soon be President - either actually on or behind the throne.
Governor Walz is a successful governor. Not a football coach or a social studies teacher. He is a former congressman. We will do well to emphasize that, while JD is a first term senator who has missed many votes and voted on the wrong side when he did vote.
The sentence was referring to likability, not expertise. ("the few voters who have not formed opinions about the candidates' "likability" will discover . . . .") When you think likability, you don't think "former Congressman and successful governor." You think, "my uncle, friend, teacher, or someone else I can relate to." That's why the campaign calls Tim Walz "coach."
One can only hope that "competence" is one quality foremost in the minds of voters. For MAGA voters it is balled-up in mythic attributes of Trump as a Messiah figure who will dispense revenge (for.... what?) rather than as a responsible, dignified leader. For "competence" all will be deferred to Project 2025 and the SCOMAGA, they will be the ones to get business done. It's terrifying. Elie Mystal had a recent article in the Nation about cases for the upcoming Supreme Court year - - and it's disconcerting, at best. Harris/Walz will do a competent, steady, moral job of leadership. To them, it's sacred work; to Trump/Vance it's all about white entitlement, vengeance, hostility, and the grift.
Elie Mystal link. Not sure if it will go past a pay wall but try!
SO true! Vance is an inexperienced sycophant. It galls me that the uncritical media refers to him all the time as a combat veteran. He spent six months in Iraq as a PR flack. That's public relations for those that don't know. And I have to listen to attacks on Walz' 24 YEARS in the military from the same hacks.
I hope that Walz (and Harris) point out that a vote for the Trump/Vance ticket is essentially a vote for Vance as President. With Trump rapidly devolving into a megaphone as loud as a gas powered leaf blower and less intelligible than a babbling lunatic, his party and the Heritage Foundation will depose him (effectively and/or legally) in a New York minute. Project 2025 may have been written with Trump in mind, but he is not essential.
Morning, Robert and all! To add to it, this 37-minute interview between Marc EIias and Senator Blumenthal of Connecticut explains how reforming the Supreme Court is a must do for us. All the more reason to elect Democrats to the House and Senate, and Kamala Harris with Tim Walz becoming president of the Senate.
(Also, a wonderful Navajo, Jonathan Nez, is running to oust that MAGA slime Eli Crane whose Congressional newsletter features an AK-47. Send five bucks to Jonathan, if you can. He'll use it well and our country needs him. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/nez-web?refcode=main-donate-link
I follow Scott Dworkin and encourage others, especially those on social media ,to share his links/hastags..He has a massive online campaign calling out the media and last week generated over 2 billion impressions.📣
Robert,thanks for sharing link for Jason Garcia/Seeking Rents, an excellent investigative reporter who “gets in the weeds” about all things DeSantis. His work also needs to be widely shared.📣
The ACLU and Southern Legal Counsel have filed a lawsuit on behalf of the org behind Amend 4.
In the meantime,let’s GOTV and inform that reproductive rights are on the ballot in Florida! Also helps if you have a messaging t,bumper sticker or yard sign as I’m not seeing any in my area. With 35 days to go, you could also get creative and design your own.
Floridians,I was able to call and leave a message at WFTS for Teresa Morgan,Station Manager who approved DeSantis’ ad as noted on the Political Disclosure Form Jason Garcia provided.📲 and 📣
Kathy, thank you for giving us something easy and pro-active to do. I sent Kathy Moore, station manager, an email, calling her out for taking state money to buy ads pushing right-wing Christian opinions on innocent viewers. Do we have any national legal teams like that Elias guy who would sue this ABC affiliate? How do we bring this kind of abuse to their legal attention?
Beautiful photo. Such a contrast to the ugliness of the other party's candidates in this election. I am not concerned about the upcoming VP debate because it will be no contest, although I am not sure I can bear to watch this one since I expect Vance will be spewing his usual unchecked outright lies.
On another note, looks like the autocorrect demon has changed "Erie" to "eerie" in advance of Halloween...
Robert, I think the issues in this election are not as complicated as you said today. It all comes down to one thing: Truth. One party respects truth (if not perfectly). The other has no regard, none, for the truth. To them, power is all that matters. They think lying has a positive value if it will help them attain power. Indeed, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman predicted this election in testifying at the first Trump impeachment hearings, when he said, “Here, truth matters.” Well find out if that’s so on November 5th.
I know this to be true: "So, as we head into the final weeks of the campaign, Kamala Harris is on message and disciplined, while Trump is shambling ever deeper into nonsense and incoherence." Oh Boy. I can see a GOP orchestrated transition to JD Vance as president in a couple of years if given half a chance. Let's all vote to not give Trump/Vance that chance!
Regrettably, it likely will be a couple of months, 6 months at the most, rather than a couple of years. Be afraid, be very afraid, and Vote Blue down the line!
Vance has not had even 2 years in Washington. Our allies may well be shaking in their boots. To say nothing of our own Governors, mayors, and top military.
Those governors, mayors, etc. had better start opening their mouths and screaming from the hilltops. Especially the Rs. Johnson, et al are living in a fool's paradise if they think they'll be spared.
Let them join the thousands of Republicans from the state department, Wall Street, political life, etc., who have already gone public and signed declarations that they are supporting Harris.
Right. And step 2, getting rid of FEMA. So we 1) won't know about the hurricanes or can deny they occurred and 2) we won't have any way to respond to human catastrophes due to the fake, mythological hurricanes that didn't occur. What alternate reality are MAGAs living in???
Swbv, well, don't forget, Vance had that whole six months in Iraq, doing publicity! Surely that qualifies him to be President of the United States of America! Can you imagine, if we still had a rational media, what they would say if anyone else put up a candidate with that level of experience? But they are wholly silent on Vance's woeful qualifications (or lack thereof). So how are busy people to know how unqualified Vance is?
We are early subscribers and big fans. You have helped us stay sane and focused. We are in Florida and very pleased that you will help Debbie. She is a great candidate. We are working hard for her. She is being well received all over the state. We believe she will win.
I am worried about the Trump attacks on Kamala, because they apparently buoy up his voters with uglier and uglier thoughts and ideas. Today the Bulwark discussed the anti-trans campaign, and I really hope that people vote on issues that affect them, not their neighbor's health. I am really appreciating the Lincoln Project Ads. This is a Republican group and one of the reasons that their ads against Trump and Vance are so powerful. One of their latests is called Abuse. I think it is out in time for the VP debates. https://youtu.be/Bm_Ozma50Ao?si=ywpERFScGk95e2rj
I wish Tim Walz the best on the debate.
The misogyny flowing through the veins of today's GOP is extraordinary. Hard to fathom how that's a winning strategy. My guess is that there are a lot of formerly steadfast female GOP voters who will pull the lever for Harris/Walz. I sure hope that's the case. Voting against your own best interests is counter-intuitive.
Some of us also think we will flip veterans, military and military families via "not suckers or losers." Lots of testimonials from vets who voted for Trump x 2. .https://votevets.org/
Similarly the DNC has outreach to Polish Americans, Ukrainians, etc. https://keystonenewsroom.com/2024/09/23/kamala-harris-pa-polish-outreach/
It started in Pittsburgh and went all the way....
https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-up-to-join-polish-americans-for-harris?source=twitter&
You asked for it.
Thank you. A mystery: How could Mike Pompeo support Trump? Trump dissed John McCain. Trump lies. Trump will sell out Ukraine. Mike Pompeo was an honored graduate of West Point. I don't get it.
Power grabber
Come on, Swbv. They're spreading the billionaires' money around. I'd love to see Pompeo's financials and tax returns (although he probably cheats). I would bet we'd see regular $500,000 consulting fee payments from mysterious shell companies. Maybe once a quarter? Extending unlimited into the future? Hard to stand up against that, especially if you're already inclined to join Team Felon (aka Team Trump). It takes a really strong moral character to stand up against temptation like that.
Pompeo was hand-in-hand with whatever Jared was doing. He's just as dirty, and made a lot of money.
I totally agree with this. Might be the major reason both of them a Ivanka are keeping their heads down.
I think (maybe just want to believe) that LOTS of folks will consider the privacy of their vote and choose sanity over demagoguery is in their best interest. And hopefully down ballot, too.
Secret ballots still, thank heaven.
The best way to incentivize rich people is to give them money. The best way to incentivize poor people is to take their money from them!
Right you are about the Lincoln Project ads, including this one. I have donated to them for that very reason: hard hitting.
In addition to the Lincoln Project and VoteVets, there is Republican Voters Against Trump (RVAT). All three have dedicated YouTube Channels:
www.youtube.com/@TheLincolnProject
www.youtube.com/@votevets
www.youtube.com/@RepublicanVotersAgainstTrump
If you subscribe to theses channels you will get alerts about new content.
FYI - LP has a another new ad leaning in on Vance's ugly rhetoric about staying in abusive relationships. Trigger warning: it discusses domestic violence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3lVk1cJZPA
Bulwark! https://www.youtube.com/@bulwarkmedia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GzCZmVcuw8 Tim Miller highlights Trump's recent insanity.
Sarah Longwell and the Republican Accountability Project.
I'd like to see a media that was still analytical and devoted to bringing news and developments to the citizens write this accurate headline, with an appropriate news story under it: "GOP VP Nominee Vance Champions Domestic Violence."
If we think the GOP has hit a new low, we are mistaken. I think Waltz is up to the task to take on Vance. Waltz does not suffer bullshit from anyone. Thanks Robert and great photo!
I agree, Christopher.
Also, we have to keep in mind that many excellent Substacks are informing more and more people. I see an important job of Substack writers is to pay attention to the turns of phrase, the rhetorical tricks, the sleights-of hand, the slick evasions, as well as the obvious lies.
In columns this week, these clear-thinking, skilled writers can educate readers about what the rhetoric really REVEALS. The mainstream media is not going to do that, but talented writers like Robert, Heather, Beschloss, Truscott, and so many others can do that. Then we can share far and wide.
I believe people can be educated about rhetorical tricks. And they don't like to be flim-flammed unless they're already in the cult. I trust our real writers to do that.
Thanks, Robert, for everything: sharing your fine mind, writing your crystal-clear prose, and generously giving your time and energy to educate as well as encourage us. Your name should make it into the history books.
Fine envious mind indeed.
When the light in that photo of Andromeda left its source, to arrive here tonight, at that time the closest thing to humans on Earth was Lucy and her fellow Australopithicines.
My Anthro 101 Professor told the joke about the Fugawee Tribe wandering about Africa in a state of being lost. I always chuckle at that one
Robert, I particularly related to your concluding thoughts this morning, thank you. May I reach out to folks here about something I have been noticing? When referring to Kamala Harris in brief, it would be best to use her 'sir name' rather than her first name. This is a discerning sign of the respect we all have for her. Folks use 'Trump' but then use 'Kamala'. I consider this an important difference for professional women. While I truly respect her and feel comfortable with her enough to use her first name; the subliminal use of her first name may take her down a tier amongst those that wish to belittle her. We all need to contribute to raising her up, no matter how small that gesture may be.
Usually, I would agree with you 100%, and you have hit on a point I have been preaching since the 1970s. However, in this case, I believe using her first name is being used intentionally to demonstrate her relatability, joyful personality, and sharpest contrasts with Dump. For example, the signs that are passed out to attendees at her campaign events often say "Kamala" or "Kamala and Coach." I do hope, though, that when she becomes president, everyone will address her properly as "President Harris."
I do sincerely wish the media would immediately stop referring to Dump as "President Trump" instead of "Former (or "Ex-") President Trump." HE IS NO LONGER A PRESIDENT, and of course, he never deserved the title in the first place!
100%
he's a private citizen with no standing. Much good that does us, as he's got the "political performance art" grip on the American psyche, delivering the delicious frissons of watching Rosemary's Baby on a daily basis. And unless I'm mistaken, the grammar rules would indicate "ex-president Trump" or "former president Trump." Note the use of the lower case.
Actually, when an honorific is used in front of the person’s name, it is capitalized, according to the official rules of protocol. It is also capitalized when stating a person’s official title even when it follows the name (“Kamala Harris, President of the United States”). The word “president” is not capitalized when used in a generic sense (e.g., “he was president 4 years ago”). I hope this helps.
Thank you, this has always bugged me.
I agree. It smacks somehow of disrespect. I, myself, didn't feel comfortable saying "Kamala" and now refer to her as "Kamala Harris" or "Harris." I can't wait to start calling her "Madame President."
Great point!
I like the idea of calling her Harris
I prefer VP Harris.
Eliz, I agree with you 2000%! If you say "Kamala," please say "Donnie" in the same post. It is a sign of how much we love her, but it is definitely trivializing and diminutive, like calling that gangling pre-adolescent tomboy "pumpkin" or "poopsie" or something baby-like. She deserves to be called "Harris," and it's up to us to do so. Let's elevate her stature together. I think it's important. We're not paying attention.
"There is little historical precedent for vice-presidential debates making a difference."
That's right. Historical. But is it fair to expect historic outcomes from an ahistoric election?
And the debate does not necessarily have to get one to admit, "ya know, I was REALLY intent on voting for Trump, but now that I've seen the VP debate ..."
No, but the debate can light a fire under a person who was on the fence about whether to vote or not to vote.
"OK, I wasn't certain I can break away from work to vote for Harris-Walz, but now I cannot allow a JD VP."
Or how about this? "I was sorta leaning for Trump, but now I think I'll just stay home."
The bald partisan nature of today’s corporate media has been exposed as, once again, CBS this time, will allow MAGA to stand up at a debate and, in a FREE ad and part of a blatant disinformation campaign, lie to millions unchecked ! The scary weakness in America is that the corporate media appears to be ultimately owned by billionaire oligarchs who favor Dump. Dump is the Leonard Leo/ Heritage Society puppet they want, to seize the US. And Peter Thiel is there as well. A very scary situation, as disinformation and brainwashing the American public is the goal. I’m just having some anxiety, as the swing states have such outsized voting power. I’m meeting with a group this week and we are writing postcards to Wisconsin. That’s a positive action. If it wasn’t for the corporate media, in the form of Rupert Murdoch et al, we wouldn’t be having such a close election. I am grateful for President Biden and VP Harris, as they dedicated themselves to saving democracy, and tirelessly campaigning all over the country during their elections….
Hi Kathy, fellow postcard writer here. It is one of my favorite antidotes to anxiety. If I feel like my brain is getting stuck on that spinning hamster exercise wheel, I just pull out a handful of postcards and go to my Zen space.
I have been getting reports from some of my other postcarding Zoom friends that they had to order postcard stamps online from USPS.com because their local Post Office has sold out. This is coming from multiple people in different locations. So everybody, please assess how many postcards you still plan to write and stock up on stamps! Mail dates for those "write and hold" campaigns are rapidly approaching!
Of course I thought I had bought enough stamps before the July price increase and have been back to buy more stamps several times already since then. I have had a lot of anxiety to dissipate!!
I bought some pre-paid, preprinted postcards with the stamps already printed on them. Ask for them. I bought 100 and wiped my tiny rural postoffice out. But they said they'd order more. Try that, maybe.
I have plenty of postcard stamps - I just kept underestimating how many I could possibly use in the 2024b election cycle!
The peope who ran out were my fellow postcarding volunteers...
Thank you for the support!! Apparently, this local democratic group has already bought several hundred postcards and is recruiting writers....so I am going to join in!
I agree about the debate! JD Vance is slick enough to sound so very passionate and concerned about absolute lies……now CBS is leaving the fact-checking up to the opponents. Imagine Walz trying to make HIS points, while taking all his time to correct what Vance has lied about. It’s insane. And the lies are critically important - with life and death consequences in this election. How stupid of CBS to abdicate their responsibility. Perhaps all future debates should include an independent fact-checker sitting alongside the moderators, who can stop to call out egregious lies. This is what the moderators finally did on NBC when Trump and Harris debated. It was so refreshing. Vance will spend 10 minutes painting his lying pictures of all the hideous things Harris (as Biden’s VP) has done the last 3 years. Then Tim will have approximately 30 seconds to fact check Vance, and try to make a comment about the truth. I hope Walz will constantly run over his allotted time, and that he will jump in (since mics are left open) to call out Vance’s disastrous lies.
I know! The debate is in such an egregious format! It is all about power and control, and they know they are so close to getting it all, and that's why they want to control women and minorities! We will bury them forever, when we come out and vote en masse! I hope Governor Walz just ignores the liar on the stage and makes his own points. Hopefully, the debate team will come up with a good strategy...they sure did for VP Harris! Thanks for listening!
Donnie was unable to bully our fierce attorney-general prosecutor Harris. I'm guessing Coach Walz has perfected the ability to identify weak spots in the opposing team and hit them hard with the right player or combination of players or game play or whatever. I just hope his verbal skills are up to deploying strategy in real time. He's very persuasive with crowds, that's for sure. But taking incoming from an enemy like Vance is a different kettle of fish. Let's see. Fingers crossed. Coaches and prosecutors are very, very good at taking down bullies.
Trump did bully the moderators, though, constantly demanding to respond (and go unrebutted) to something Harris had said. As a result Trump made 39 remarks to Harris' 23 remarks and he spoke about 6 minutes more than she did. The moderators did not stand up to him once nor did they cut his mic. They stopped Harris several times when she hit the limit, though. I was the proverbial crazy old man yelling at the TV! Lol
It was infuriating.
I hear you. Taking that tsunami of incoming lies and bs and just plain LIES from someone like Vance is another level of mess. ?I have alot of trouble with social media as people just parrot lies and stuff just not founded in any factual data or events....so weird.
Stay strong, Kathy. Write postcards, make calls, canvass, donate. One day at a time, filled with GOTV effort.
The DEM campaign should shout out that Walls’ opponent in this debate is not just vying to be Veep, but, given DJT’s dementia, in all likelihood would soon be President - either actually on or behind the throne.
And in addition to being another of Putin's puppets, Vance is beholden to Peter Thiel.
And that has to be one of Trump's unspoken nightmares...
Walz needs to point it out repeatedly during the debate!
Yes!! And it would likely offer another opportunity for DT to melt down before us!
Governor Walz is a successful governor. Not a football coach or a social studies teacher. He is a former congressman. We will do well to emphasize that, while JD is a first term senator who has missed many votes and voted on the wrong side when he did vote.
The sentence was referring to likability, not expertise. ("the few voters who have not formed opinions about the candidates' "likability" will discover . . . .") When you think likability, you don't think "former Congressman and successful governor." You think, "my uncle, friend, teacher, or someone else I can relate to." That's why the campaign calls Tim Walz "coach."
I’m understand. I hear from people who like him but question his competence. I prefer we call him governor.
I prefer we call him "Mr. Vice President."
One can only hope that "competence" is one quality foremost in the minds of voters. For MAGA voters it is balled-up in mythic attributes of Trump as a Messiah figure who will dispense revenge (for.... what?) rather than as a responsible, dignified leader. For "competence" all will be deferred to Project 2025 and the SCOMAGA, they will be the ones to get business done. It's terrifying. Elie Mystal had a recent article in the Nation about cases for the upcoming Supreme Court year - - and it's disconcerting, at best. Harris/Walz will do a competent, steady, moral job of leadership. To them, it's sacred work; to Trump/Vance it's all about white entitlement, vengeance, hostility, and the grift.
Elie Mystal link. Not sure if it will go past a pay wall but try!
https://www.thenation.com/article/society/supreme-court-2024-term-preview/
SO true! Vance is an inexperienced sycophant. It galls me that the uncritical media refers to him all the time as a combat veteran. He spent six months in Iraq as a PR flack. That's public relations for those that don't know. And I have to listen to attacks on Walz' 24 YEARS in the military from the same hacks.
Infuriating, isn't it?
I hope that Walz (and Harris) point out that a vote for the Trump/Vance ticket is essentially a vote for Vance as President. With Trump rapidly devolving into a megaphone as loud as a gas powered leaf blower and less intelligible than a babbling lunatic, his party and the Heritage Foundation will depose him (effectively and/or legally) in a New York minute. Project 2025 may have been written with Trump in mind, but he is not essential.
But Frank, what makes you think that idiots who like Trump, won't be the same idiots that like Vance? Do you somehow think Vance is worse than Trump?
Morning, Robert and all! To add to it, this 37-minute interview between Marc EIias and Senator Blumenthal of Connecticut explains how reforming the Supreme Court is a must do for us. All the more reason to elect Democrats to the House and Senate, and Kamala Harris with Tim Walz becoming president of the Senate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=379gwObw0-k
Great photo!
Nice One, Robert☆ Steady as we go, focused and disciplined, just like KH.
I'd like someone to start a movement called
WE ARE ALL IMMIGRANTS
For the vast majority of us, either we ourselves or our forebears came from some place else.
Spread the word.....
WE ARE ALL IMMIGRANTS!
Someone should point out to Trump's kids that, except for Tiffany, they are anchor babies.
"I am Spartacus!"
"I am Spartacus!" (And the daughter of an "illegal immigrant" who worked for the US Army during WWII.
But I live in Arizona, and that slogan excludes Native Americans. Lots of them in our Southwest.
(Also, a wonderful Navajo, Jonathan Nez, is running to oust that MAGA slime Eli Crane whose Congressional newsletter features an AK-47. Send five bucks to Jonathan, if you can. He'll use it well and our country needs him. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/nez-web?refcode=main-donate-link
I follow Scott Dworkin and encourage others, especially those on social media ,to share his links/hastags..He has a massive online campaign calling out the media and last week generated over 2 billion impressions.📣
https://open.substack.com/pub/dworkin/p/time-for-the-press-to-stop-working?r=fqsxl&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Robert,thanks for sharing link for Jason Garcia/Seeking Rents, an excellent investigative reporter who “gets in the weeds” about all things DeSantis. His work also needs to be widely shared.📣
The ACLU and Southern Legal Counsel have filed a lawsuit on behalf of the org behind Amend 4.
In the meantime,let’s GOTV and inform that reproductive rights are on the ballot in Florida! Also helps if you have a messaging t,bumper sticker or yard sign as I’m not seeing any in my area. With 35 days to go, you could also get creative and design your own.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1776308008/yes-on-4-t-shirt-florida-vote-yes-on
https://store.floridiansprotectingfreedom.com/
Floridians,I was able to call and leave a message at WFTS for Teresa Morgan,Station Manager who approved DeSantis’ ad as noted on the Political Disclosure Form Jason Garcia provided.📲 and 📣
Follow prompts for Station Manager:
https://www.abcactionnews.com/about-us/contact-us
Kathy, thank you for giving us something easy and pro-active to do. I sent Kathy Moore, station manager, an email, calling her out for taking state money to buy ads pushing right-wing Christian opinions on innocent viewers. Do we have any national legal teams like that Elias guy who would sue this ABC affiliate? How do we bring this kind of abuse to their legal attention?
Cool that Dworkin is reaching so many on this corporate media situation we have here.
Beautiful photo. Such a contrast to the ugliness of the other party's candidates in this election. I am not concerned about the upcoming VP debate because it will be no contest, although I am not sure I can bear to watch this one since I expect Vance will be spewing his usual unchecked outright lies.
On another note, looks like the autocorrect demon has changed "Erie" to "eerie" in advance of Halloween...
Robert, I think the issues in this election are not as complicated as you said today. It all comes down to one thing: Truth. One party respects truth (if not perfectly). The other has no regard, none, for the truth. To them, power is all that matters. They think lying has a positive value if it will help them attain power. Indeed, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman predicted this election in testifying at the first Trump impeachment hearings, when he said, “Here, truth matters.” Well find out if that’s so on November 5th.
I know this to be true: "So, as we head into the final weeks of the campaign, Kamala Harris is on message and disciplined, while Trump is shambling ever deeper into nonsense and incoherence." Oh Boy. I can see a GOP orchestrated transition to JD Vance as president in a couple of years if given half a chance. Let's all vote to not give Trump/Vance that chance!
Regrettably, it likely will be a couple of months, 6 months at the most, rather than a couple of years. Be afraid, be very afraid, and Vote Blue down the line!
Vance has not had even 2 years in Washington. Our allies may well be shaking in their boots. To say nothing of our own Governors, mayors, and top military.
Those governors, mayors, etc. had better start opening their mouths and screaming from the hilltops. Especially the Rs. Johnson, et al are living in a fool's paradise if they think they'll be spared.
Let them join the thousands of Republicans from the state department, Wall Street, political life, etc., who have already gone public and signed declarations that they are supporting Harris.
Couldn't agree more. Good luck getting FEMA to Florida or Louisiana for the next storm if Trump/Vance follow the Project 2025 map
Project 2025 calls for getting rid of NOAA - nobody will even know about the hurricanes.
Right. And step 2, getting rid of FEMA. So we 1) won't know about the hurricanes or can deny they occurred and 2) we won't have any way to respond to human catastrophes due to the fake, mythological hurricanes that didn't occur. What alternate reality are MAGAs living in???
That's right up there in the pantheon of dumb ideas. Let's ask Floridians how that would work for them. Or the Coast Guard.
Swbv, well, don't forget, Vance had that whole six months in Iraq, doing publicity! Surely that qualifies him to be President of the United States of America! Can you imagine, if we still had a rational media, what they would say if anyone else put up a candidate with that level of experience? But they are wholly silent on Vance's woeful qualifications (or lack thereof). So how are busy people to know how unqualified Vance is?
We are early subscribers and big fans. You have helped us stay sane and focused. We are in Florida and very pleased that you will help Debbie. She is a great candidate. We are working hard for her. She is being well received all over the state. We believe she will win.